Newsletter

Regional transit system coming to Bryan County

Jamie Parker/Bryan County NowOne of the busses that will be put into operation as part of the new regional transit system.

Two 14-passenger buses and a van, the first hard evidence that nine Georgia counties, including Chatham, Bryan, Liberty and Effingham will soon be serviced by two new regional transit systems, pulled up in front of the Quality Inn in Richmond Hill last Wednesday afternoon. Barbara Hurst said earlier in the summer that the services, a regional bus service and a van-pool designed for work commuting, will be operated by Coastal Regional Coaches, a division of the Coastal Regional Commission (CRC) and VPSI (Van Pool Services Incorporated).

The bus service will allow riders to book a trip to anywhere in Glynn, Camden, McIntosh, Long, Chatham, Effingham, Bryan, Liberty and Screven counties for just $3 per county. Under the van-pool system, a group of workers living in the same area who go to work in the same area at the same time will be assigned a van. One of them will drive it, it will stay with them at their work site and, when their shift is over, they will drive it back home.

"This is the start of a great program for the region," said Coast Regional Commission Council Chairman Dan Coty. "This is something that we think our communities can benefit from. It is sort of a work in progress."

It is a work in progress because, while bus service has begun in Long and Camden counties, no local counties have yet to get their wheels on the ground, so to speak. But that is about to change. The two new buses on display in Richmond Hill, plus a third, were slated to go to Liberty County. Other new buses will soon be on the way to other coastal counties, said Allen Burns, executive director of Coastal Regional Commission.

Terri Taylor, director of transportation for Bryan County, said she thinks the buses will be a big benefit to the county.

"I think it is a wonderful thing for Bryan County because, while we do have public transit now, it is only for within Bryan County," she said. "So many people, especially the way the economy is now, don't have the resources to get outside the county to go to doctor's visits or just get away. A lot of the elderly don't have family around to take them places. This is a beautiful thing. I am excited about it."

Burns said buses based in Bryan County should be in service within a few weeks.

"What is significant about today is that we actually have buses," Burns said. "These are the first, but there are 14 more in Atlanta. We will pick up eight of them on Friday. These first three will go to Liberty County. As we get others in, they will be distributed to our transit providers (in other counties). What that means is service is starting."